Interactive Literacy - Reviews

If you would like to leave a review, please click here

Review by: Nicola Clare Rating: Review We are extremely pleased with Interactive Literacy, it supplements what we already do, in an easy-to-access way. We liked the package because it fits in flexibly with our existing plans. It is that something ‘extra’ for Literacy that really enriches our teaching. The software is easy to use, and comes with a teacher’s book packed with suggestions, saving valuable time. This gives us a very clear guide of how to use each screen and provides good ideas for related sentence and word level work. I particularly like the shared writing aspect, as it is very well structured. This leads the children into their independent writing tasks, which are well differentiated to suit children of all abilities. The printable sheets support less able children, but also stretch the most able. I also like the fact that there are additional guided reading texts available to print, which match the theme of the unit. The children seem to really enjoy the program. They like the fact that they can use the interactive tools to highlight bits, or make changes to a text. The Speaking and Listening pages really motivate them, and generate quality discussion. All of the units have rich, stimulating material, supported by a range of pictures and photographs that really bring them to life. I really enjoy teaching with Interactive Literacy, and would certainly recommend it to other schools to enhance their Literacy teaching.

Review by: Howard Lovell Rating: Review This review is from the ICTOPUS website, and is written by Howard Lovell a Deputy Head Teacher. Teachers in our school are being challenged by the New Literacy Framework and the way in which it is set out online. The DCSF doesn’t seem bothered by their complex guidance. So when Smart Learning makes available a well organised, easy to understand and comprehensive software package an immediate answer for teachers is provided. Smart Learning demystifies the complex online maze of literacy content and for many will be welcomed with open arms. The software is intuitive and leans towards usage for Interactive Whiteboards and whole class sharing of its content. Equally useful for teachers may be the installation of the software on individual machines, however, site licences will be needed. The prices per year group seem to equate to similar software products available and are not budget busting. Once installed, the software offers individual logins and then a screen demands that the user chooses terms 1, 2 or 3. Unit titles are equated to specific genres. Once that has been chosen there then is a choice of text based resources, a written task or a speaking and listening activity. Certainly the text materials will be employed by teachers to share with large groups but the written task lends itself to be used by individuals or even ‘study buddies’. The speaking and listening activity could be used as a whole class or once again by smaller groups or individuals. The Teacher’s Book is similarly easy to use. Each page introduces the unit, suggests usage for the whole class and explains the activities provided in the software. Extension activities also provide ideas for further learning. If the total answer were to be provided by Smart Learning then ideas for differentiation could have been suggested but then individual teachers know their own pupils best. Don’t they? If you want lots of support for the integration of the New Literacy Framework in your teaching then this is the answer. I like this software and recommend it wholeheartedly. However, if your school wishes to use individual teacher’s creativity and time to wade through the DCSF site then this is not for you. I wish you well but ‘Smart’ users will have more time on Sundays for newspaper reading and gardening!

Review by: Russell Ingleby Rating: Review Interactive literacy for year 3 and year 4 Westmoor Junior School is a three form junior school serving the Dewsbury Moor area. The school role was 293 at the start of the 2005 academic year but this number has slowly risen to over 300 during the course of the year. 24.6% of the current school role has a special education role. 23.5% of the current school role has English as a second language. There is pupil mobility of 15% and 40.3% of pupils are on free school meals. In the 2005 English SATs 79% of the cohort achieved a level 4 or higher. The school has good ICT provision; all teachers have their own laptop and there are interactive whiteboards in 8 out of 12 classrooms. We purchased Interactive Literacy for years 3 and 4 earlier in the year. I have been using it on a trial basis with a number of colleagues over the past few months. Our intention is to roll out Interactive Literacy across the school in September once the books and CD ROMs for year 5 and 6 become available. The things that have most impressed me about Interactive Literacy is that it has clearly been put together by a team that has had recent and relevant experience of teaching literacy in key stage two. Visually the electronic materials and resources are very attractive and catch and maintain the children’s attention in class. The software is intuitive and does not need lots of learning by teachers. The teacher’s books are clear and concise and again show evidence of having been written by someone experienced in teaching literacy. The children respond well to Interactive Literacy because a lot of thought has gone into preparing a resource that caters to the whole range of visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learning styles our children present. The visual learners like seeing the story clearly laid out in the text screens, whilst the auditory learners like having the story read to them. This is a strong feature of Interactive Literacy, that all text elements can be read aloud and in a range of voices. The kinaesthetic learners respond particularly well to being able to move pieces of text around on the screen. The main reason that I would support a nomination for Interactive Literacy is because of the holistic approach it takes towards literacy. Interactive Literacy includes the reading, writing and speaking and listening in one combined approach underpinned by appropriate and effective use of ICT as a medium of delivery. In my view this makes Interactive Literacy a unique resource in today’s market. What makes the product unique: Holistic approach that includes reading, writing and speaking and listening. A combination of effective electronic resources backed up by a practical and accessible teacher’s book. Quality of resources that have clearly been written by experience teachers. Very good quality additional activity sheets and ideas on the CD-ROM Price, I would honestly have expected to have paid a lot more for a resource of this quality. Features it provides that help the inclusion of every child. The ability to have text read aloud aids the inclusion of auditory learners. The ability to highlight text, add or remove pictures and words etc helps to focus the learning experience for some children with attention difficulties. The activity sheets and extension ideas aid those gifted and talented children to extend their learning. What does the product do? It makes the planning process far easier for the teacher who is free to either use the electronic resources in their own way or use the suggested plans in the book. It brings together a collection of high quality texts and visual resources so that the teacher does not have to go looking for these. It engages the children in the lesson by the child centred on screen presentation of text and graphics. It enables the teacher to annotate the text and make notes that can be recalled at a later time. It offers opportunities for independent working. Review by Russell Ingleby, ICT subject leader & assessment manager, Westmoor Junior School, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.

Review by: Peter Thurlow Rating: Review Smart Learning Testimonial - Year 4 Literacy I have worked with Smart Learning’s products for three years. As a former primary classroom teacher and deputy head I feel that they are extremely valuable resources for a busy teacher who wants to support literacy lessons with ICT. The teacher’s manuals are well written and precisely mapped to the primary curriculum, with a wide range of exercises, tasks and ideas to make literacy come alive - and the teacher’s job easier. The Year 4 Literacy module is an excellent example of Smart Learning’s approach - to combine quality written resources with fully complementary software which engages children and inspires them to achieve more whilst thoroughly enjoying the lessons. Smart Learning combine a wide variety of approaches including audio, video and animation to provide stimulating and visually attractive materials which impact positively on children’s attitudes to learning and literacy. I am particularly pleased with the layout and ‘feel’ of the software. It is designed for the non-specialist teacher and is easy to navigate, enabling immediate access to whole class text, writing and speaking and listening activities. The text area comes with a very useful highlighting and editing tool which facilitates easy whiteboard use even for the whiteboard novice, and the screens usually contain instructions, questions and additional animations to supplement the activities and provide extra variety for the audience. The writing screens represent a wide range of source material and illustrative style, and the speaking and listening section is a lively blend of videos, games and challenges to keep the children on task right through the lesson. Children also have constant use of a pop-up notepad, which is particularly useful when literacy work is taking place in the ICT suite. Where necessary, teachers can instantly access a range of progressive worksheets to reinforce and develop learning concepts. All the texts have audio support in a range of clear voices, and Smart Learning have been careful to ensure appropriate multi-ethnic representation throughout. In conclusion, I would recommend this product for its ease of use, quality of teaching resources, variety of styles and humour, effective use of cross-curricular ICT and close links to the requirements of the National Curriculum. Peter Thurlow Centre Manager South Leeds City Learning Centre.

Review by: Kate Norton Rating: Review Year 5 The Smart Learning interactive resource is a fantastic piece of software that brings Literacy to life in the Year 5 classroom. The program itself is in an easy-to-use format, with clearly identified areas for sharing texts and producing writing which is completed by the incorporation of Speaking and Listening activities. It is also worth mentioning that it has a child-friendly layout, which means that children can revisit pages independently to refresh themselves about the task. The content of the program is very interesting and ties in nicely with the QCA scheme of work for other foundation subjects, such as the Victorian police report for recounts and note-taking about Ancient Greece in History. Additionally the variety of areas covered is stimulating for boys, which is enhanced by the interactivity of each topic. Accompanying the interactive program is a resource area, with well-thought-out writing activity sheets covering a range of abilities, yet solidly linked to the whiteboard activity. Additionally, the Teacher handbook provides excellent teaching ideas and references each module neatly to the Literacy program of study. For new teachers this is an invaluable resource and for more experienced teachers this is a way to breathe life back into their teaching! The program is incredibly useful and inspirational to lead or accompany each area within the Year 5 programme of study. Kate Norton St George’s, London

Review by: Kate Norton Rating: Review Year 3 I have found the Smart Learning Interactive Literacy package to be a valuable resource for thorough and inspirational teaching in Year 3, and one on which I have come to depend upon within a short space of time. The programme proved easy to install and was accompanied by a Teacher's Book detailing step-by-step instructions on how to run lessons. Additionally, the CD contains copies of worksheets (Guided Reading and Writing Activity Sheets) to accompany each topic of study which proved to be well-thought-out and extremely helpful. I found the software to be intuitive; with simple-to-navigate menus organised in uncomplicated lists of genres and clear-to-follow on-screen prompts. A range of texts are offered supporting all areas of the Literacy Programme of Study. In addition to being able to read aloud from the package, there is an audio option providing clearly spoken and appropriately timed language – this is a valuable tool, in particular for children who have English as an additional language and the non-readers or early readers in a class. Whilst also supporting different abilities within the class, the programme attracts the interest of the boys using subject content such as crime (as illustrated by the task 'Skratcher and Katcher Investigate'), sport-oriented topics ('Class 3 Looks at PE') and a number of adventure related texts. The idea of teaching through ICT itself is a huge motivator for boys. The range of texts successfully attempts to be cross-curricular; linking with ICT (as illustrated by the task 'An e-mail from Asia'), Numeracy: Shape and Space (the task 'Class 3 Looks at PE' illustrates information using bar charts) and PSHE ('Mrs Gyasi's Banana-Coconut Dessert'). There are three whole-class teaching options provided through the menus: Text: With a floating tool bar, it is an ideal opportunity to incorporate text, sentence and word-level activities, particularly editing work. The icons on the tool bar are similar to those employed in other software programmes making it easy for the children to recognise and therefore use. Writing: Activities can be teacher-demonstrated to captivate classes, or child-led with an emphasis on class interaction to both challenge and engage. Speaking and Listening: These activities are valuable as an option for those less-able pupils, extension activities for the whole class or as stimulating plenaries. The Smart Learning Literacy Programme is an essential teaching tool for any class with access to an interactive whiteboard.